Jewelled Stamps

The latest issue from the Gulf state of Qatar is a set of six devoted to indigenous jewellery. Designed by local artist Khalid Fikri, the stamps have been printed by Walsall of England in a combination of multicolour photogravure and embossing in various metallic inks which gives the various pieces of jewellery a startling three-dimensional effect.

The stamps feature Shmailat (bangle), Tassa (head-dress), Ishqab (breast ornaments), Khatim (rings), Merthash (dress ornaments) and Mashmoom (pendant ear-rings). Qatar ranks as one of the world's most conservative countries, at least so far as stamps are concerned. The only other stamps issued throughout 2003 were a block of four in December for the centenary of powered flight and a single last May for World No Smoking Day (a stark image of a human heart with a no smoking sign superimposed.

GENERAL SECTION - 1937 KGVI COMMONWEALTH CORONATION. An unusual collection of stamps & covers presented in a stock book, we see most sets very fine used (either on or off cover, or both) plus many sets mint. Some covers & the gum on some mint with toning apparent. An interesting collection (285+ stamps & 35+ covers)

1992 OLYMPIC GAMES A substantial thematic collection in two dedicated volumes, the first volume contains never hinged mint stamps and miniature sheets plus Chris Boardman (Cycling) and David Broome (Equestrian) signed covers, a Turks and Caicos 1992 solid silver proof coin, France Albertville sheetlet, then the second volume is with mint and (many earlier Olympics) used stamps plus a good range of covers including a few coin covers and a Steve Backley (Javelin) signed cover. (approx 750 stamps, 60 mini-sheets/sheetlets, and 83 covers)

BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR 2005 beautiful British Commonwealth 200th Anniversary omnibus collection of never hinged mint stamps and miniature sheets along with a range of covers, displayed in an album - includes many lovely sheetlets of six with illustrated borders with these from Solomon Islands, Gibraltar, Tristan da Cunha, Bahamas, British Indian Ocean Territory, Jamaica, St Helena, St Lucia, Ascension Island, Cayman Islands, and Kiribati. Also with Alderney sheetlets of ten, Isle of Man sheetlets of eight, and range of covers (incl a Great Britain £5 coin cover), plus a Gibraltar Special Limited Edition Folder. Some of the stamps and sheetlets have a layer of actual timber from the original HMS Victory in Portsmouth. (70 sheetlets, 32 mini-sheets, 68 stamps, 10 covers, plus a folder)

BIRDS OF THE WORLD 1980's to 1990's world thematic collection of never hinged mint stamps, plus covers and cards, presented in a "Birds of the World" dedicated album with descriptive pages, includes for example Ireland definitive set to £5 Shelduck, Hungary 1988 Falcon coin cover, South Africa 1997 Waterbirds sheetlet, Canada sheetlets, etc. (74 stamps, 9 mini-sheets/sheetlets, 26 covers, and 8 cards)

BIRDS ON STAMPS Tuvalu 1988 Birds set complete (SG 502/17) both as an IMPERFORATE PROOF SET and also a PERFORATED SET WITH MISSING COLOURS, all never hinged mint on issued gummed paper IN VERTICAL PAIRS. A spectacular group, the imperforates are in the final issued colours, the perforated set with each stamp missing a colour. Spectacular (64 stamps / proofs)

GENERAL SECTION - CATAPULT MAIL 1929-37 interesting collection of "Ship to Shore" Catapult cards and covers, includes 1929 Germany to USA, Germany to Berlin, and USA to England, 1930 USA to Austria, Germany to USA (4), and USA to Germany, 1931 Germany to England, 1932 USA to Germany, a 1937 Coronation cover to Canada, plus a few modern items. The 1929-32 items are with cachets e.g. "Via SS Europa" or Steamship "D. Bremen", etc. (15 covers/cards plus a few other items)

CATS AND DOGS 1979-2001 world thematic collection in an album, includes a good range of covers incl several "coin" covers, 1979/1991 GB Dogs sets on FDC tied by "BARKING" cds cancels, also a range of Dogs and Cats stamps, these mostly used. (approx 475 stamps, 4 mini-sheets, and 79 covers)

CRICKET 1990-2009 attractive, all different collection in THREE VOLUMES, we see many GB covers, chiefly unaddressed SPECIAL COVERS incl. a number of signed covers, first day covers, covers with special commemorative postmarks, range of postcards of various teams, a number of 2005 Ashes Winners covers, then a quantity of BRITISH COMMONWEALTH illustrated First Day Covers and Special covers incl. Isle of Man, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Barbados, Australia, Jersey, Guyana, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, Alderney, Ireland and many West Indies countries. Great lot in lovely, fresh condition - see scans for a flavour (approx 330 covers/cards).

D-DAY LANDINGS COVERS COLLECTION 1994-2005 mostly Great Britain and France thematic collection in an album which starts with a lovely group of eight coin covers, Gibraltar covers, FDC's with all of the Landing Beaches cachets, later coin covers incl 2005 "coin and medal" inset on End of the War mini-sheet cover, etc. (39 covers plus a few other items)

FAUNA AND FLORA all different worldwide collection displayed in a stockbook, mostly very fine mint/ never hinged mint plus a few used. Includes many better stamps and sets - note French Southern and Antarctic Territories 1956-60 range to 100f including 25f Kerguelen Fur Seal; Former French Colonies AIR High Values; Japan 1949 8y "Moon and Brent Geese" and 1961 Flowers set; and much more. (approx 600 stamps)

GREAT BRITAIN (QUEEN VICTORIA) - 1840 (10 Nov) a large entire letter, being the complete (printed) "Weekly Return by the Steward at Thirlestane Castle" form with detailed accounts by hand for the period 12th to 19th October 1840 giving comprehensive details of workers & jobs paid for and amounts received (not a good week with cash paid out £177.12s.6d and cash received £82.11s). Sent to the Earl of Lauderdale at Dunbar bearing 1840 2d pale blue 'ND' plate 1 (SG 6) with 4 margins tied by two clear strikes of the red MC cancellation, on reverse "LAUDER" handstamp. Fascinating cover from one of Scotland's oldest & finest castles.